COMUS M86
Official No: 98376 Port Number and Year: 5th in Milford, 1891
Description: Iron side / beam trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: foresail, mainsail, mizzen
Crew: 9 men
Registered at Milford: 11 Nov 1891
Built: 1891, by R. Dixon, Middlesborough. (Yard no. 356)
Tonnage: 133.15 grt 54.14 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet):96.5 / 20.3 / 10.7
Engine: T 3-cyl. 50 hp. North Eastern Marine Engineering, Sunderland
Owners:
11 Nov 1891: Frederick Joseph Sellick, 'Marine Villa', Murray Cres., Milford
William Stephen Moxley, 32 Queen's Sq., Bristol
Manager: Frederick J. Sellick
16 Nov 1903: Frederick Robert Greenish, 'The Grove', Haverfordwest. (Doctor of Music)
Edward Perrish, Corn St., Bristol
Renamed GERDA
4 Mar 1911: Swedish owners, Gothenberg.
Landed at Milford: 22 Nov189 - 30 Mar 1910
Skippers: Peter Ebbesen cert 01768, age 34, born Denmark; signed on 6 Jan, 9 Jul, 11 Nov 1891; 30 Jun, 1 Jul 1893; 8 Jan 1894; 5 Jan 1898; 5 Feb 1899; 10 Jan 1901
J. Clark 3089, 32 Hull; 24 Nov 1891
A. Howe 1137, 31, Grimsby; 8 Jul 1892
William Jones 2487, - , - ; 27 Dec 1892
B. H. Galvin 1617, 35, Bradford; 13 Jul 1898; 2 Jan 1899
David Pettit 6943, 32, Essex; 4 Jul 1899
Robert M. Limbrick 7616, 39, London; 15 Jul 1899; 9 Jan 1908
B. Jackson 1431, 40, Yarmouth; 1 Jan 1901
John Henry Dove 2287, 34, Hull; 12 Mar 1901
W. E. Wales 5484, 27, Ramsgate; 11 Apr, 10 Jul 1901; 6 Jan, 3 Jul 1902; 5 Jan, 9 Jul 1903
William Weymouth -, 27, Torquay; 5 Jan, 2 Jul 1904
Charles Reed 5314, 32, Stratford; 10 Jul 1905; 18 Jan, 7 Jul 1906; 7 Jan 1907
C. Garnish 3728, 39, London; 21 Jun, 5 Jul 1907; 6 Jan, 14 Jul 1908; 19 Jan, 2 Jul1909
T. J. Hawkins 2014, 42, Brixham; 30 Jan, 7 Jul 1908
H. L. Limbrick 8019, 22, Brixham; 13 Aug 1908
Henry Milford 8298, 43, Torquay; 14 Jan 1910
Alfred August 05732, 58, Barking; 8 Feb 1911
Notes: Laid up in Milford Docks from 1 Nov 1911 to 8 Feb 1911
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 4 Mar1911. Vessel sold to Swedish owners.
Accidents and Incidents
From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 20th June, 1900:
The steam trawler 'Comus' arrived in Milford last Tuesday week with one of the crew, David Flowerday, in a precarious condition. It appears that Flowerday had been in very poor health for some time past, suffering from an affection of the heart. However, he went to sea in the above vessel the previous week as cook, but on the Monday it seems grave symptoms appeared. The poor fellow became ill, becoming gradually worse until at last he lapsed into a state of unconsciousness. Thereupon the ship returned to Milford with all possible speed, and on its arrival the unfortunate man was landed and subsequently conveyed to his home. Despite every effort to restore animation, Flowerday expired at 7.30 the same night, about three hours after reaching port. Deceased, who was about forty years of age, was a native of Yarmouth, and was formerly a skipper, but through ill health could no longer follow his vocation in that capacity. He was a steady and conscientious man, married, and leaves a widow and four children, with whom much sympathy is felt locally.
[See log book entry below]
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From the Pembrokeshire Herald of Friday 4th January 1901:
The Storm
damage to trawlers
Of the great storm last Thursday evening, the men working on the trawlers running out of the port speak with awe, and say that it was the worst experienced for many years. The battered appearance of some of the boats that came in Friday and Saturday spoke volumes as to the severity of the tempest.
...................
On the Comus, a storm was experienced on the North coast of Ireland, on Christmas morning. The centre bollard was carried away by a heavy sea, and struck the boatswain, Alfred Brown, on the upper jaw, fracturing it. He lies at his home at Hubberston.
...................
Other trawlers ran to various places for shelter, but as already stated, they all reached Milford safely. After the holidays there was some difficulty experienced in getting the crews together.
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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 8th November 1905:
At Bantry Bay Petty Sessions, Charles Reed, skipper of the steam trawler "Comus", belonging to Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price, Milford, was fined £75, and £2-9-0 costs, for illegal trawling in Bantry Bay. A fine of £50 and costs was also imposed on Skipper George Medway, of the steam trawler "Weymouth", owned by the same firm.
It was stated for the owners that they were anxious to discourage poaching, and that the defendants had erred through lack of local knowledge.
.....
The Bench ordered all the nets to be forfeited. Mr. Purdon, Residing Magistrate, said these trawlers had been making Bantry Bay their happy hunting grounds, and the magistrates were determined in future to inflict very heavy penalties for illegal steam trawlers.
From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 7th February 1906:
At Bantry Bay, County Cork, Quarter Sessions, Charles Reed, skipper of the Welsh steam trawler "Comus", appealed against a fine of £75 and confiscation of his nets, on the allegation that the "Comus" had on the 3rd October last, trawled within the proscribed limits of Bantry Bay. Mr McSweeny, who was for the appellant, argued that Bantry Bay was not a proper definition of the tidal waters thereof, as mentioned and contemplated by the Fisheries Act, section 17, and submitted that that being so the Petty Sessions Court at Bantry Bay had no jurisdiction. Judge Bird held against Mr McSweeny. Mr McSweeny then complained that the penalty was excessive. His Honour decided to reduce the penalty to £50. Another Welsh skipper, George Medway, of the trawler "Weymouth", made a like appeal, and His Honour reduced the fine from £50 to £25.
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Log book entries:
02.01.1892
Monday evening at 5.30 we left the mooring in Kinsale Harbour for sea. About quarter of an hour later we ran ashore on Charles Fort, E side of the harbour, where we remained hard until the next tide when we got off without any assistance. There was no damage.
William Jones (Skipper)
28.01.1896
J. Joyce, age 30, deckhand; born Manchester, residing Milford Haven.
Whilst guiding warp on drum of steam winch he slipped and foot getting under the sparwheel got crushed.
Peter Ebbeson (Skipper)
15.09.1899
40 miles SW from St Ann's Head.
Collision with three masted ship 'Merioneth' of the port of Liverpool. Collided with steam trawler 'Comus' off Milford while trawling.
R.M. Limbrick (Skipper)
12.06.1900
Returned to Milford Haven on 12th June with the Cook, D. Flowerday, ill. He did not seem well from the time he came on board, but did his work up to Monday morning. On arriving at Milford Haven the Doctor was sent on board.
T. Trott (Skipper)
10.09.1900
140 miles SW by S from St Ann's Head.
Thomas Jones, age 21, deckhand; born Liverpool.
When slacking the after warps his hand got jammed in winch, and top of forefinger was taken off.
R. Edwards, Old Dockyard, Milford.
24.12.1900
40 miles WNW from Innisher Tralee.
A. Brown, age 34, Bosun; born Hull, residing Hubberston.
Whilst we were fishing, a heavy sea struck the ship, causing the fairlead to be carried away. The warps on the starboard side sprung striking the Bosun and knocking him against the ship's rail, breaking his jaw.
30.08.1901
Towed the steam trawler 'Brazilian' of Milford into Milford Docks, August 30th, 1901, with shaft broken, 170 miles W by S from St Ann's Head.
W.E. Wales (Skipper)
21.09.1904
Towed the steam trawler 'Petunia' (intermediate shaft broken) from 2 miles NNE of Bull Rock to Milford Haven and placed her in safety.
William Weymouth (Skipper)
24.09.1907
105 miles W by S of St Ann's Head.
Loss of propeller whilst trawling - cause unknown.
C. Garnish (Skipper)
T.E. Knight (Mate)
09.04.1908
On bridge at sea. 16 miles NW of Ballycotton.
John Collins, age 40, Mate; English, born York, residing Milford Haven.
He was standing by the wheel when he suddenly fell and was found dead. (Heart failure)
Charles Garnish (Skipper)
George Horton (Witness)
The under-mentioned effects of John Collins were delivered to the Supt. Milford Haven (Customs):
2 pair of trousers 1 leather belt
1 jacket 1 singlet
3 shirts 1 pair of seaboots
1 guernsey
1 muffler
2 caps contained in 1 canvas bag.
Charles Garnish (Skipper)
18.02.1911
It is hereby understood that on the run to Gothenburg, Sweden , the crew shall consist of 6 hands all told, and their remuneration shall be as set out against their respective names. It is also agreed that owners defray the cost of their passages home to Milford or Hull as desired.
Alfred August (Skipper)
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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 15th February 1911:
At the Lord Nelson on Wednesday afternoon Messrs. Evans and Roach put up a number of trawlers and other vessels for sale by auction. There was a large attendance of gentlemen connected with local shipping.
Three iron screw steam trawlers, which in their day have helped in the rise of Milford as a fishing port, were offered under instructions from the executors of the late Mr. Frederick Joseph Sellick. The "Comus", built in 1891, 96.5 ft. length x 20.3 ft. breadth, received a commencing bid of £100, but went no further than £275, and was withdrawn. The "Circe", built in 1892, 100.5 ft. length x 20.4 ft. breadth, was started at £300, rising to £500, and then withdrawn. The "Blue Jacket", built 1896, 101.0 ft. x 20.5 ft., was also started at £300, and looked like changing hands, but the reserve was not reached and she was withdrawn at £620.
The steam trawler "Rosslyn Castle" was next on offer. She is owned by Messrs. William Jenkins, R. D. James, Ford, Mathias and I. Jenkins, and was built in 1897, tonnage 184, length 112 ft., beam 21 ft. Only one bid of £150 was forthcoming, and the vessel was withdrawn.
From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 22nd February 1911:
The steam trawlers "Comus", Blue Jacket" and "Circe" (Sellick, Morley and Price, managers), which were recently offered by public auction, have since been sold privately to Swedish trawling people. The first two left the Dock on Monday morning's tide, and took farewell to the port after a connection of twenty years for one, and fifteen years for the other. Their destination is Gottenburg. They have been laid up for some time. The "Circe" will make for the same place after landing her catch this week.
The steam trawler "Reliance", owned by Mr. J. G. Cayley, has also changed hands, and in future she will fly the French flag. She left on Tuesday for the port of Dieppe.
Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price have two new vessels on order, so that the old are being replaced by better and more up-to-date vessels.
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